Brassiere



H. GLUCKIN Nov. 6, 1945.

BRASSIERE Filed Feb. 9. 1945 Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRASSIERE Harry Gluckin, New York, N. Y. Application February 9, 1945, Serial No. 571,030 4 Claims. (01. 2-42) This invention relates to brassieres and other types of garments including what is commonly referred to as breast supporting pockets with means for supporting the pockets upon the body of the wearer. More particularly, the invention deals with devices of this class, wherein the pockets include brace or bust supporting members 'which are horseshoe or are of substantially semicircular formation adapted to engage lower and side portions of the breasts in supporting the same in raised youthful position. Still more par- I in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. l is a front view of a brassire made according to my invention with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In brassires and other garments employing breast supporting pockets and, particularly, pockets including brace or supporting members, it has been customary to more or less permanently secure the braces or supporting members to the pockets to constitute an integral part thereof, thus presenting a problem of laundering, particularly when the brace or supporting member are composed of materials which should not be subjected to an extensive amount of moisture and which, further, should not be subjected to extensive heat, for example, in ironing.

To overcome these difficulties and objections, I have provided breast pockets with means for securing and maintaining brace or supporting members in connection therewithwhile, at the of the brace or supporting members whenever desired and, particularly, when it is desirable to launder the garment.

vide relative movement of the pockets l0, Illa. The pocket l0 includes a side and back band i2; whereas, the pocket Illa includes a similar side and back band l3. These bands are detachably coupled at the back of the garment by any suitable means, as indicated at I4. The rear ends of the bands also preferably include elastic inserts I5 and i6, respectively, to provide yieldable mounting of the brassiere upon the body of the wearer. Attached to the bands I2, I3 are shoulder straps l1 and I8 whichare also coupled with the upper central portions l9 and 20 of the pockets l0, Ina. Buckles 2| and 22 are preferably included in the straps l1 and i8 for adjustment of the straps, as in other devices of this-kind.

While my present invention is not concerned with the general contour and construction of the pockets as a whole, in the present structure, the pockets are illustrated as composed of single sheets of material, in which are formed darts, as

seen at 23 and 24, to give the rounded shape or contour, particularly to the lower portions thereof. It is preferred that the pockets be composed of inner and outer facings, for example, the outer facing 25 and inner facing 26 of the pocket Ina,

note Fig. 2, and the outer facing 21 and inner facing 28 of the pocket [0, note Fig. 3.

These facings have inturned peripheral edges which are stitched together, as indicated by the same time, providing quick and easy detachment stitching 29 on the pocket i0 andthe stitching 30 on the pocket Illa. Each pocket has a pair of widely spaced stitchings substantially paralleling the lower and side edges of each pocket, as seen at 3|, on the pocket I0 and 32 on the pocket Illa. This produces substantially semi-circular or horseshoe-shaped channels or passages 33 and 34. Note in this connection the cross-section of the passage 34, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These channels or passages are formed between the inner and outer facing sheets of the respective pockets ill, I (la and are adapted to receive brace or supporting members 35 and 36 which are substantially of the same form as the channels or passages.

The channels or passages, at inner adjacent ends of the pockets, are sealed off to form stops by stitchings, as at 31 and 38; whereas the other ends of the channels or passages have buttonhole or other openings 39 and 40 inwardly of the ends of the channels, note for example Fig. 3 of the drawing, through which the brace or supporting. members 35 and 36 are adapted to pass inconpling and uncoupling the same with the breast pockets. It is also preferred that the buttonhole ends 39 and 40 include closure flaps 4| and 42,

which seal and close the channel ends similar flaps 4| and 42 are adapted to extend through the buttonholes into the channels or passages, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, to prevent accidental displacement of the members 35 and 36. However, by pulling out on the ends of the flaps 4| and 42, the ends of the members 35 and 36 may be freely drawn through the buttonholes, as will be apparent. It is not absolutely essential that the closure or seal flaps 4| and 42 be employed but, when employed, it is preferred that they are located at the outer surface of the pockets'in order to eliminate any protruding part on .the inner surface of the pockets which might be uncomfortable to the wearer. invention is not limited to brace or supporting members of any particular shape or contour. However, in the present construction, they are in the form of reasonably wide bands which may be suillciently flexible to take the curved contour, illustrated in the cross-section.in Fig.2 of the drawing, to fit the periphery ofthe breasts and adjacent part of the body of the wearer. In some instances, these members may be preformed to a curved contour substantially similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2. These members may be composed ,of metal, plastics or any other type or kind of relatively firm material.

Considering Fig. l of the drawing, it will be apparent that the band or strap I l extends from a substantial portion of the inner adjacent sides of the pockets which is occupied by the end portions of the brace or supporting members arranged therein. In like manner, the side bands I! and I3 extend from outer sides of the pockets at the other end portions of the members. It will, thus, be seen that, when the brassiere or other garment is arranged upon the body of the wearer, the bands I! and i3 plus the band or strap II will hold the garment firmly about the body of the wearer with the brace or supporting members in snug engagement with the body at peripheral portions of the lower part and sides of the breast. It will also be apparent that, in addition to the means retaining the ends of the brace members in position on the pockets, the stitchings 3| and 32 also confine the brace members to the channels or passages 33 and 34. This will operate to maintain the peripheral lower and side edge portions of the pockets in proper position at all times upon the body of the wearer; whereas the upper portions l9 and 20 are firmly supported through the medium of the shoulder straps.

It will also be apparent that, in more economical forms of garments, it is not essential that a complete inner facing be employed on each of the pockets. A limited or more or less strip-like facing can be employed, suflicient to form the channels or passages 33 and 34 for the mounting and positioning of the members 35 and 36 thereon.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A brassire comprising breast pockets, means supporting said pockets upon the body of a wearer, each of said pockets comprising inner Further, my.

I to the stitchings 31 and 38. The ends of the and outer facings, means forming between said facings substantially semi-circular channels bordering lower and side edges of each pocket, means closing one end of the channel of each pocket, the other end of the channel of each pocket having an opening inwardly of said end thereof, a substantially firm semi-circular brace member arranged in the channel of each pocket, and said members being attachable and detachable with respect to the channels through said openings.

2. A brassiere comprising breast pockets, means supporting said pockets upon the body of a wearer, each of said pockets comprising inner and outer facings, means forming between said facings substantially semi-circular channels bordering lower and side edges of each pocket, means closing one end of the channel of each pocket, the other end of the channel or each pocket having an opening inwardly of said end thereof, a substantially firm semi-circular brace member arranged in the channel of each pocket, said members being attachable and detachable with respect to the channels through said openings, and means at the open end of each channel for retaining the brace member against displacement from the channel.

3. A brassiere of the class described, comprising a pair of breast supporting pockets, means joining adjacent edge portions of said pockets, means comprising side and back bands for supporting the brassire around the body of a wearer, means forming curved channels encircling the major portion of the pockets, the ends of the channels being closed, substantially firm breast supporting members arranged in said channels. and extending around the pockets, greater than one hundred and eighty degrees, said members extending substantially the full length of said channels and held against displacement by the closed ends of said channels, and one end portion of the channel of each pocket having an opening inwardly of said end portion for insertion and removal of the supporting memher with respect to the channel of said pocket.

4. A brassiere of the class described, comprising a pair of breast supporting pockets, means joining adjacent edge portions of said pockets, means comprising side and back bands for supporting the brassire around the body of a wearer, means forming curved channels encircling the major portion of the pockets, the ends of the channels being closed, substantially firm breast supporting members arranged in said channels and extending around the pockets, greater than one hundred and eighty degrees, said members extending substantially the full length of said channels and held against displacement by the closed ends of said channels, one end portion of the channel of each pocket having an opening 

